Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans have fought their way back into Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup at Manchester United.
After summer deals for Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt were completed by Manchester United, it seemed as though Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans would drop down the pecking order.
That may have been the case at the start of the season with Erik ten Hag preferring a centre-back partnership of De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.
However, United have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season and De Ligt and Martinez let down Ten Hag when under huge pressure.
Ten Hag raised eyebrows when he brought on Maguire and Evans against Porto but he may look back on it as a decision that saved his job.
The centre-back pairing kept their spot for the goalless draw against Aston Villa where Evans put on a “masterclass” in defence.
Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans plan for post-retirement
When Evans rejoined United in 2023 – eight years after he had initially left – he had only been training with the side to keep his fitness up before he was offered a one-year deal.
At 36 years old, he is in the twilight years of his career and will be planning for his retirement.
According to the Daily Mail, both Evans and Maguire have enrolled to begin their coaching badges.
The defensive duo have reportedly enrolled for their UEFA B qualification which is now required to pursue a career in coaching and management.
Evans and Maguire are expected to begin their badges at Carrington when not training with the first team.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be ‘delighted’
Many United players who starred in Sir Alex Ferguson‘s iconic teams have gone on to become coaches and managers, including former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and current assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Maguire and Evans are now looking to follow in their footsteps and enter the world of coaching.
READ MORE: Potential Erik ten Hag replacement says he is ‘open’ to job offers ahead of Man United meeting
The Daily Mail report from above suggests Ferguson would be “delighted” as the legendary United manager always encouraged his players to take coaching courses during afternoons at Carrington.
Who knows, maybe one day Maguire or Evans could return to the Old Trafford sideline as a coach or even as manager.
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